CALIFORNIA: It's déjà vu on state's big issue

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/26/10 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

California's most enduring political battle is over whether its relatively high living costs and taxes and dense regulatory thicket make it uncompetitive in a global economy – or, as one blue-ribbon state commission put it in the 1990s, have become a "job-killing machine."

The clash plays itself out in the Capitol each year as labor, environmental, consumer and other groups sponsor dozens of bills that business groups label "job killers" and try, usually successfully, to block.

But the debate began three-plus decades ago when, after a string of overtly pro-business governors, a young Jerry Brown won the office and appointed poverty lawyers, environmentalists and consumer advocates to high-level state positions.

There were several clashes over specific development projects, most prominently a Dow Chemical Co. plant that was abandoned after running afoul of state regulators.

"He (Brown) did not pull the trigger, but he bought the pistol and the bullets," Jack Henning, head of the California Labor Federation, said of the project's 1977 demise. "There are certain Mad Hatters in the Brown administration who will, if they have their own way, drive all significant industry out of California."

Thirty-three years later, Democrat Brown is running for governor again, and with the state mired in a very deep recession, the economy is a pivotal issue with Republican rival Meg Whitman, a one-time business executive.

Whitman has adopted the business community's plaint, alleging that California is hostile to new job-creating investment and is driving employers to other states and nations.

[glide625]

Allow California to secede........oh, yea, I forgot, they can’t because they need money from the rest of us to stay afloat.

[dragnet2]

As if industry and business has not been driven out of the entire country for the past 20 years.

Lets play stupid!

[calcowgirl]

The state Air Resources Board is poised to issue broad new regulations to reduce the state's carbon emissions, which some business groups say will drive jobs out of the state. But the ARB says the new rules will spark a green job revolution.

So now CARB is considered "pro-business"?

Green jobs: The next dot-com criminal conspiracy.

[calcowgirl]

"He (Brown) did not pull the trigger, but he bought the pistol and the bullets," Jack Henning, head of the California Labor Federation, said of the project's 1977 demise. "There are certain Mad Hatters in the Brown administration who will, if they have their own way, drive all significant industry out of California."

This is almost amusing. Mr. CIO "global unionism" labor leader and activist himself, Jack Henning, complaining about anti-business policies.

[Czar]

The CARB is about as “pro-business” as Obambi and his thugocracy. This outfit is right at the top of my “eliminate” list along with the rest of the Boards, Committees, and other useless aggregations of unelected and unaccountable meddlesome bureaucrats who operate as a shadow government to shield our corrupt politicians from any responsibility.

[calcowgirl]

This outfit is right at the top of my “eliminate” list along with the rest of the Boards, Committees, and other useless aggregations of unelected and unaccountable meddlesome bureaucrats who operate as a shadow government to shield our corrupt politicians from any responsibility.

I'm with you. The most powerful anti-freedom agency in the 50 states, I would bet.

[calcowgirl]

Allow California to secede........oh, yea, I forgot, they can’t because they need money from the rest of us to stay afloat.

Actually, California puts in more than they take out. (about 1/.80 ratio) What state are you from? Perhaps we're paying to keep you afloat?

[Carry_Okie]

But the ARB says the new rules will spark a green job revolution revulsion.

There, fixed it.

[tubebender]

The most powerful anti-freedom agency in the 50 states, I would bet.

Closely followed by the water quality CONTROL broads and the Calif Coastal Communist